Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1887-02-01
West Virginia Legislature.

1
etc., on the human system, in the
public schools of the State.
BY Mr.. Lucas, I'll. Il. 200 relating
to the improvements of Berkeley
Springs.
On motion of Mr.. Lucas the rules
were suspended, and H. b. No. 100,
. A bilk to lessen the danger of acct
dents on railroads, and to fence in
railroad BEDS" which was this day
reported back from the Committee on
Railroads, with the recommendation
that it do not pass, was taken out OF
its order, and on his motion the bill
was recommitted to the Committee on
Railroads.
II. d. No. 67, "a bill to amend
chapter 15l of the Code of West Vir-
ginia, relating to offences against
public policy, by adding thereto
seven additional sections, numbered
II, IS, 10, 20, 21, % and So, re-
spectively, prohibiting the issuing of
railroad passes to public officers and
delegates to political conventions,
which was made the special order of
the day for IL O'Clock, Monday, was
taken up for consideration on motion
of Mr.. Lucas.
Mr.. Lucas opened the debate in
favor of the bill by saying that he
wished the Houseto understand what
they were voting on before they dis
posed of the measure. The bill was
to abolish the custom of legislators
in receiving free passes from railroad
companies. 1t was we'll known that
Il custom if persisted in eventually
became law, and lie felt confident
that it was the sentiment of the men,
bers that this custom should be done
away with before it gained tirmer
hold. He believed that it was a ques-
ton of Legislative morality that it
should be suppressed, for it was well
known that the railroads surely had
a motive i'll the granting of passes,
and it WIS easily supposed that that
motive was to influence Legislation in
their favor. The politics of the coun-
try had become such that with the
dominant party, to nominate was to
elect and if the railroads could secure
the favor of the candidates for that
party it would be all the better for
the road. He referred to the fact
that President Cleveland declined
to use palace car when it was ten
dered him by a railway company, not
because he was afraid of being infiu-
enced thereby but because he didn't
want the slightest faint of bribery to
be attached to his name, and it was
for this purpose that he presented the
hill, not because he was afraid of the
members Of the Legislature being in
fluenced by passes, but because lie
wished to show the people of the
State and the world that not even 4
suspicion could be attached to them.
Mr.. Hensley created some amuse-
mcnt by asking if the word minis
tiers" in the bill referred to ministers
of the gospel or not, and then stating
that he had carried a railroad pass for
almost quarter of century by vir-
tue of his ministerial capacity, and he
hadn't found that the railroads cx-
pected any return unless it was the
prayers of the preachers, and he
added: 1.-The Lord knows they need
Them
Mr.. Lucas replied that he didn't
understand the word as referring to
tile ministers in any way, but thought
that as they had free passes into
heaven they were entitled to pass
upon earth too.
The bill was then read and the ayes
and noes were demanded upon the
question of rejecting it, the following
vote being cast: Ayes 80, noes So.
so the bill was referred to second
reading, and ordered to be printed.
In the debate upon ii. B. Ill,
raising the school tax to 25 cents on
the 500. Col. Chew said in opposi-
ton to the bill that the Constitution
said that an efficient school system
he provided rs soon as practicable,
but that it was not practicable ut
present. The people are overbur-
dened with taxes already. The coun-
ty of jefferson, for instance, while it
was said to be rich county. was not
so. and the same way with other
counties, and although the people of
the State are all in favor of free schools
it would not be policy to increase the
taxes any more at present.
The resolution proposing an amend
mcnt to the constitution of the State,
prohibiting the manufacture and sale
of Intoxicating liquors, is still before
the Senate, it having passed III the
lower house. The bill providing. for
biennial examinations OF the cOnd;-
ton of the pcmi:an'iary pas >cd. The
hill for changing the liquor law so
That the owner OF property i'll which
intoNicants are illegally sold, &c, is
liable for damages sustained by those
who get drunk on the premises. or
others who may be damaged by th0>e
who are drunk passed.
In the State Senate yesterday Mr..
Morris presented ii resolution alleg-
ing that undue influence was being
used to elect Il United States Senator,
and asked that the matter be looked
after 10y the committee on privileges
and elections. The bill relating to
free passes to public officials was or
dcrcd in the lower House to its third
reading.